English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2) — A1 is the friendliest place to start — and browse its words grouped by topic: travel, food, the body, emotions, and more. Each word shows its meaning, example sentences, and US/UK pronunciation.
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195 words
maxilla
C2
/mækˈsɪlə/
either of the paired bones forming the upper jaw and supporting the upper teeth in vertebrates
cerebrospinal
C2
/ˌsɛrəbroʊˈspaɪnəl/
of or relating to the brain and spinal cord
mastoid
C2
/ˈmæ.stɔɪd/
relating to the mastoid process or the region of the skull directly behind the ear
maxillary
C2
/ˈmæk.səˌlɛɹ.i/
of or relating to the upper jaw
jowl
C2
/dʒaʊl/
the loose flesh of the lower cheek or jaw, especially when it hangs with age
flexor
C2
/ˈflɛksɚ/
a muscle whose contraction bends a joint or reduces the angle between body parts
ganglion
C2
/ˈɡæŋ.ɡli.ən/
a cluster of nerve-cell bodies, usually outside the brain and spinal cord, that acts as a relay point for nerve signals
auricular
C2
/ɔˈɹɪkjəlɚ/
of, relating to, or situated near the ear
metatarsal
C2
/ˌmɛtəˈtɑːɹsəl/
relating to the metatarsus, the part of the foot between the ankle and toes
cutaneous
C2
/kjuˈteɪniəs/
of, relating to, existing on, or affecting the skin
ramus
C2
/ˈɹeɪməs/
a branch or branchlike projecting part of an anatomical structure
dentition
C2
/dɛnˈtɪʃən/
the number, kinds, and arrangement of teeth in a person or animal
gyrus
C2
/ˈdʒaɪ.rəs/
an anatomical ridge between grooves, especially one of the folds on the surface of the brain
gula
C2
/ˈɡjulə/
anatomy and zoology: the upper front of the neck beneath the chin; the throat region
gonad
C2
/ˈɡoʊ.næd/
an organ, such as an ovary or testis, that produces reproductive cells
sagittal
C2
/ˈsædʒətəl/
anatomy: relating to a vertical plane that divides the body into left and right portions
magistracy
C2
/ˈmæd͡ʒəstɹəsi/
The dignity or office of a magistrate.
labyrinthine
C2
/ˌlæb.əˈɹɪn.θɪn/
resembling a labyrinth in form or complexity
slat
C2
/slæt/
informal: a rib of the body, especially in the plural slats
axillary
C2
/ˈæksəˌlɛri/
relating to or situated in the axilla or armpit
bronchus
C2
/ˈbrɑːŋkəs/
either of the two main airways branching from the trachea into the lungs, or one of their larger branches
depressor
C2
/dɪˈpɹɛsɚ/
an anatomical muscle that lowers or draws down a body part
pharynx
C2
/ˈfer.ɪŋks/
the muscular passage behind the nose and mouth that leads toward the larynx and esophagus
extensor
C2
/ɪkˈstɛnsɚ/
a muscle whose contraction straightens a limb or increases the angle at a joint
scapular
C2
/ˈskæpjələr/
relating to the scapula or shoulder blade
axilla
C2
/ækˈsɪlə/
anatomy: the armpit, especially the space beneath the shoulder joint through which major nerves and blood vessels pass
tubercle
C2
/ˈtuːbɚkəl/
a small rounded projection on a bone, tooth, animal surface, or other anatomical structure
reconnoitre
C2
/ˌɹɛkəˈnɔɪtɚ/
To perform a reconnaissance (of an area; an enemy position); to scout with the aim of gaining information.
sulcus
C2
/ˈsʌl.kəs/
in anatomy, a narrow groove or furrow in an organ or tissue, especially on the surface of the brain
sacral
C2
/ˈsækɹəl/
relating to or situated near the sacrum at the base of the spine
cecum
C2
/ˈsiːkəm/
a pouch at the beginning of the large intestine, where the ileum opens into it
macula
C2
/ˈmækjʊlə/
a patch of skin that is discolored but not usually elevated
tympanic
C2
/tɪmˈpænɪk/
relating to the eardrum, middle ear, or tympanum
centrum
C2
/ˈsɛntrəm/
the thick central body of a vertebra, to which the vertebral arch and other processes attach
contortion
C2
/kənˈtɔr.ʃən/
a twisted, strained, or unnatural position or movement of the body or face
peristalsis
C2
/ˌpɛrəˈstælsɪs/
rhythmic, wave-like muscular contractions that move contents through a tube, especially the digestive tract
diverticulum
C2
/ˌdaɪvɚˈtɪkjələm/
a pouch, sac, or blind branch projecting from the wall of a hollow or tubular organ
glottis
C2
/ˈɡlɑtɪs/
the opening between the vocal folds in the larynx, whose changing width helps control breathing and voice
testis
C2
/ˈtes.tɪs/
either of the male reproductive glands that produce sperm and secrete hormones such as testosterone
sternocleidomastoid
C2
/ˌstɝ.nəˌklaɪ.dəˈmæˌstɔɪd/
one of two thick muscles running from the sternum and clavicle to the mastoid and occipital bone
levator
C2
/lɪˈveɪtɚ/
an anatomical muscle that raises the body part to which it is attached
sylvian
C2
/ˈsɪlviən/
relating to the lateral fissure or adjacent structures of the brain
eustachian
C2
/juːˈsteɪ.ʃən/
relating to the auditory tube that connects the middle ear with the upper throat
conjunctiva
C2
/ˌkɑnˌd͡ʒʌŋ(k)ˈtaɪ.və/
a transparent lubricating mucous membrane that covers the eyeball and the under surface of the eyelid
occiput
C2
/ˈɑːksɪˌpʌt/
the back part of the head or skull
lanugo
C2
/ləˈnuːɡoʊ/
the fine, soft hair that temporarily covers a human fetus and may still be present on a newborn
parotid
C2
/pəˈrɑtɪd/
relating to or situated near the parotid gland, the large salivary gland in front of and below the ear
scintillation
C2
/ˌsɪn.təˈleɪ.ʃən/
The twinkling of a star or other celestial body caused by turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere.
snuffle
C2
/ˈsnʌf.əl/
to breathe, sniff, or sniffle noisily through the nose
zygoma
C2
/zaɪˈɡoʊmə/
anatomy: either zygomatic bone, forming the prominence of the cheek below and beside the eye
orbicularis
C2
/ɔɹˌbɪk.jəˈlɛɹ.ɪs/
A muscle surrounding an opening.
cornu
C2
/ˈkɔɹnuː/
a horn-shaped anatomical part, such as a projection of a bone, organ, or region of the spinal cord
lacrimal
C2
/ˈlæk.ɹəm.əl/
anatomy: relating to tears or to the organs that produce or drain them
osseous
C2
/ˈɑːsiəs/
consisting of, containing, or relating to bone
nasolabial
C2
/ˌneɪzoʊˈleɪbiəl/
Relating to the nose and lips.
deliberative
C2
/dɪˈlɪbɝˌeɪtɪv/
involved in or characterized by deliberation and discussion and examination
diastema
C2
/ˌdaɪəˈstiːmə/
a gap between adjacent teeth, especially between the upper front incisors
dolichocephalic
C2
/ˌdɑːlɪkoʊsəˈfælɪk/
having a head or skull that is relatively long from front to back compared with its width
papilla
C2
/pəˈpɪlə/
a small nipple-shaped projection of tissue, such as one on the tongue or at the base of a hair, tooth, or feather
tuberosity
C2
/ˌtuːbəˈrɑːsəti/
anatomy: a large, rough, rounded prominence on a bone, commonly serving as an attachment site for a muscle, tendon, or ligament
tympanum
C2
/ˈtɪmpənəm/
the eardrum or tympanic membrane, and historically the middle-ear cavity behind it
zygomaticus
C2
/ˌzaɪ.ɡəˈmæt.ək.əs/
One of several small subcutaneous facial muscles arising from or in relation with the zygomatic bone.
lacrimation
C2
/ˌlækrəˈmeɪʃən/
shedding tears
frontalis
C2
/ˌfɹʌnˈteɪ.lɪs/
A muscle of the forehead, sometimes considered to be part of the occipitofrontalis muscle.
brachycephalic
C2
/ˌbræki səˈfælɪk/
having a skull that is relatively short from front to back and broad from side to side
viscus
C2
/ˈvɪskəs/
anatomy: an internal organ located in one of the body's major cavities
palpebral
C2
/pælˈpi.bɹəl/
Of, pertaining to, or located on or near the eyelids.
tonus
C2
/ˈtoʊnəs/
the normal continuous tension or readiness of living muscles, arteries, or other tissue
luteum
C2
corpus luteum
filum
C2
/ˈfaɪləm/
anatomy and biology: a slender thread-like structure or filament
commissure
C2
/ˈkɑm.əˌʃʊɹ/
a bundle of nerve fibers passing from one side to the other of the brain or spinal cord
metatarsus
C2
/ˌmɛtəˈtɑːrsəs/
the part of a vertebrate foot between the tarsus and the toes, consisting in humans of five metatarsal bones
conduce
C2
/kənˈd(j)us/
To cause (something) to occur; to bring about.
frenum
C2
/ˈfriːnəm/
an anatomical fold of tissue that restrains or anchors the movement of an organ; a frenulum
prognathous
C2
/ˈprɑɡnəθəs/
having jaws that project forward beyond the upper part of the face
platysma
C2
/pləˈtɪz.mə/
either of two broad muscles located on either side of the neck and innervated by the facial nerve
orbicular
C2
/ɔɹˈbɪk.ju.lɚ/
Circular or spherical in shape; round.
sensorimotor
C2
/ˌsɛnsəriˈmoʊtər/
relating jointly to sensory input and motor activity or their coordination
intercondylar
C2
/ˌɪntərkənˈdɪlər/
anatomy: situated or occurring between two condyles
supracondylar
C2
/ˌsuːprəˈkɑːndəlɚ/
anatomy and medicine: situated above, relating to, or affecting the area above a condyle of a bone
subcostal
C2
/sʌbˈkɑːstəl/
anatomy: situated or occurring beneath a rib or the ribs
deglutition
C2
/ˌdiɡluˈtɪʃ(ə)n/
the act or physiological process of swallowing
antihelix
C2
/ˌæn.tɪˈhi.lɪks/
anatomy: the curved ridge of cartilage inside and roughly parallel to the helix of the outer ear
fasciculus
C2
/fəˈsɪkjʊləs/
anatomy: a small bundle of nerve, muscle, tendon, or other parallel fibers
caruncle
C2
/ˈkærəŋkəl/
a small fleshy outgrowth forming a normal part of an animal, such as a bird's wattle or a growth near the eye
pneumogastric
C2
/ˌnuːmoʊˈɡæstrɪk/
dated: relating to the vagus nerve
underlip
C2
/ˈʌndɚˌlɪp/
the lower lip of a person or animal
callosity
C2
/kəˈlɑːsəti/
an area of skin or other tissue that has become thick and hard, especially through repeated pressure or friction
chyle
C2
/kaɪl/
a milky digestive fluid made of lymph and absorbed fats, formed in the small intestine
plication
C2
/plaɪˈkeɪʃən/
the act or process of folding, especially into parallel folds
antitragus
C2
/ˌæn.tɪˈtɹeɪ.ɡəs/
anatomy: a small cartilaginous projection of the outer ear opposite and just above the tragus
solar plexus
C2
/ˌsoʊ.lɚ ˈplek.səs/
the celiac plexus: a network of autonomic nerves in the upper abdomen, behind the stomach, that distributes nerve fibers to abdominal organs
ischiopubic
C2
/ˌɪski.oʊˈpjuːbɪk/
relating to both the ischium and the pubis, especially the region or ramus where these pelvic bones meet
occipitoparietal
C2
/ɑkˌsɪpɪtoʊpəˈraɪətəl/
relating to both the occipital and parietal bones or regions of the skull and brain
apophysis
C2
/əˈpɑfɪsɪs/
anatomy and zoology: a natural projection, process, or outgrowth from a bone or other body structure
incisure
C2
/ɪnˈsɪʒɚ/
anatomy: a notch or indentation in a bone, organ, or other bodily structure